Mehr Saffron, Premium All Red Saffron / 1/2 Oz (14 Gram)

The picture is of a tea blend I made with saffron after 4 infusion. I picked out of the saffron from the bag and placed it in the bowl so you can see that even after several infusion the saffron has not lost its colour. Disclosure: I did receive this product for a discounted price for my honest review. Pros -Arrived on time -Packaged beautifully -Most importantly this is high quality saffron! Although I am not a connoisseur of saffron you can tell that this product is exceptionally good because it’s the right colour, dry, brittle, and it has that amazing saffron smell. I used this saffron to make a white tea blend with chamomile, lemongrass and saffron, and not only did this saffron make delicious tea I was able to make many more tasty infusions. I also plan on freezing the tea bags and using them on my eyes since saffron is really good for the skin. Cons -none for me at least

Costco is well known for providing authentic, high quality foods like saffron and olive oil so I wanted to compare their brand to what I usually buy, which is Mehr and see how different they are. First the visuals: Mehr looks like it has been broken and abused or simply milled to be shorter or are from flowers that don't produce very long stamens. Kirkland has long intact stamens that are beautiful and clearly have been gently handled at all stages. Cold water: Mehr instantly releases color when in contact with cold water. Kirkland doesn't produce much color at all. Hot water: After 5 minutes in water from boiling temperature the water is beautifully colored. Kirkland, has released its color with hot water, looks nearly identical to Mehr. Cooked in rice: Mehr saffron is slightly darker than Kirkland. Both come out beautifully. Flavor: both are distinctly saffron, but have slightly different flavors. Neither is better than the other. Conclusion: I'll buy whichever is readily available. Mehr is the real deal, and that is what I wanted to figure out from this process.

I must admit that I'm probably not enough of a gourmet cook to accurately judge premium saffron. I'll give my observations, which is the best I can do. First of all, the packaging is premium and gives the feeling that you've acquired the very best. Always a plus when you pay this much for such a small amount. These days good saffron is pricier than gold or silver. The fine golden box, the heavy, thick glass of the bottle, and the massive precisely cut cork (which resembles a vault door more than a stopper) all whisper quality. The aroma is strong, which points to freshness. The strands are long and while, not broken and powdery. And of course, just a pinch transforms any dish that you add it to. Exquisite. Worth every dollar. The only downside? The beautiful golden box came with an ugly inventory sticker plastered on with industrial strength glue! Too bad. It's a nice little box.

Product is delivered in a glass container with a cork (not the tin that is also pictured). It has a wonderful smell that hits you as soon as you open the shipping box. All of the product was a nice deep dark red. There was no yellow. Delivery was prompt, and the saffron was in excellent condition. While I purchase saffron every 3 years or so, I simply do not cook with it frequently enough to give it a 5 star rating. From look and smell alone, it is definitely above average. I will say that since I was able to smell it when I opened the amazon box, I left it in its original container and then put that container in an air tight container normally used to store teas. I figured that the smell was a sure hint that the container provided was not air tight. Store your saffron in a cool dark cupboard, and it will last several years.

I have no particular expertise with this spice but went ahead a purchased for my brother who is a superb cook so we could make "authentic" paella. He said it was much better than some saffron he'd used in the past. It was powerfully fragrant and a single strand was very flavorful. The paella we made was simply fantastic...to the point I'm going to add it to my own staple of meals (might take a few attempts to perfect). I was also surprised by the amount in the bottle...0.18 Oz doesn't seem like a lot but it's probably far more than one could use before it begins to degrade - unless you're cooking with it 3-4 times a week.